Great Platte River Road Archway Monument

Overview

Spanning I-80 at Exit 275 in Kearney, NE, from the Oregon Trail era through today, the Archway tells the story of the building of America.

Our personal audio guides allow you to begin your tour whenever you arrive. No need to arrive at a specific time of day. And, you set the pace. Most visitors spend about an hour in our historic exhibit. You are welcome to take your time and enjoy everything the Archway has to offer.

Experience our family-friendly historical exhibit, visit our replica sod house, picnic on the Archway campus, stroll on our hike/bike trail, and feed the fish in our pond from our vintage bridge. Then, plan the rest of your trip in our Nebraska Visitors Center.

The Archway is a one-of-a-kind experience that’s entertaining and inspiring for the whole family.

City: Nebraska

Tue 24 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $15.00

Make a reservation

Tue 24 Dec

Starting at $15.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Access to all exhibits

All taxes, fees, and handling charges

Use of headset

Route and map

Meeting point

Open in Google Maps

Kearney
3060 E 1st St,

Redeem your ticket upon arrival at the Archway Gift Shop. You can begin your self-guided tour at any time during our business hours and complete it at your leisure.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The Archway is wheelchair accessible and a limited number of loaner wheelchairs are available.
The Archway has plenty of pull-through parking spaces for RVs, trailers, and semis.
Just minutes east Kearney, NE, the Archway offers easy access to an abundance of hotel and restaurant options.
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Guides required to regularly wash hands

What To Expect

Great Platte River Road Archway Monument

Walk with the pioneers over the Oregon Trail. Watch a rider make a quick stop to switch horses at a Pony Express Station. Hear Mark Twain’s account of a cross-country stagecoach trip. Relive the competition that created the first Transcontinental Railroad, and visit a travelers’ campground to hear stories of life on the Lincoln Highway. All this happened right here on the Great Platte River Road in Nebraska. Using life-size figures in elaborate scenic displays the Archway tells an inspiring American story of discovery, innovation, and adventure. Travelers on today’s I-80 are following in the footsteps of the pioneers who headed down the Oregon Trail in the 1840s. The means of transportation have changed, but the route has stayed pretty much the same. We are still following the Great Platte River Road across Nebraska on the road to adventure in America. The admission price applies to the historic exhibit only. Other amenities on the Archway campus are accessible at no charge.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (121)

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davidkQ9686WR

Jun 2022

We have driven under this bridge many times and never stopped in. In fact, before the East freeway entrance/exit it was somewhat difficult to get to. They made many improvements to avoid bankruptcy of the structure several years ago. Today we decided to stop by to purchase a postcard for my granddaughter. You can go into the monument and go to the gift shop or use the bathrooms without paying anything. The outside of the building is interesting itself with a 1914 bridge, walkways and historical plaques. There are trails to walk or bike and it’s beautifully done. As you walk into the building you are greeted by a very authentic Wild West character in costume. We did not go up the escalator due to time limitations, but it’s on our plan for next time. The organization has really has done an excellent job making an interesting and fun experience for anybody who visits. We were really sorry we never stopped at this before, it was really fun.

Response from Host

Aug 2022

Hello! Thank you for the great review! We are so happy you were able to stop to visit the Gift Shop! We hope you will stop again and see us!

David L

May 2022

Nice little museum over the top of I80. I would recommend visiting it, we spent 1.5 hours in the museum. They give you headsets to listen to as you go thru the exhibits. And they have free popcorn after the visit.

Response from Host

Jun 2022

Hello! Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you were able to spend some time with us at the Archway! Popcorn is always a great snack! We hope to see you again!

Barker1991

May 2022

Soooo much history and information provided. Also, very good props such as pictures and things to look at. Very well taken care of. For the Kearney area this has to be rated the top attraction and I guess for my lowest rating it would be Pioneer Village in Minden. Oh, also go see the car collection located at Cabelas, it also gets rated very highly. Cheers and enjoy the area.

Response from Host

Jun 2022

Hello! Thank you for the great review! We are so glad you had a great time visiting us at the Archway! We hope to see you again!